Four-wheel drive route along N.C. 12 in Dare County to close on Thursday

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Crews remove damaged pavement from NC 12

Four-wheel drive route along N.C. 12 in Dare County to close on Thursday

Crews remove damaged pavement from NC 12

Dare County, N.C. – The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to close the four-wheel drive route along N.C. 12 on Pea Island on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The closure will allow crews to conduct maintenance work on the route and take steps to rebuild the highway damaged by Hurricane Sandy and two Nor’easters.

The four-wheel drive route will remain open on Thursday from 5 a.m.-9 a.m. and 4 p.m.-10 p.m., weather permitting.

Motorists wanting to travel from Hatteras Island to the mainland during the closure period can take the emergency ferry route between Rodanthe and Stumpy Point. The NCDOT Ferry Division anticipates heavier traffic on the emergency ferry tomorrow and encourages drivers to arrive early to expedite the boarding process.

During the closure, heavy equipment will level the sand in the areas where tires are creating ruts along the four-wheel drive route, resulting in a safer, more stable ride.

They will also remove damaged pavement and perform grading work at the points where the four-wheel drive route connects to N.C. 12, which are Mirlo Beach and about 0.4 miles north of the S-Curves. This is part of the work necessary to rebuild and reopen N.C. 12 to all traffic on or by Dec. 25, weather permitting.

For the latest details on the emergency ferry route, as well as schedules for our regular ferry routes, call 1-800-BY-FERRY and press 1, or visit the NCDOT Ferry page.